Automatic cloth feeding device in a cycle sewing machine

Abstract

An automatic cloth feeding device in a cycle sewing machine is provided with first and a second cloth pressers which are placed on a working table and respectively hold and release both ends of the cloth in the lateral direction. Rotary motion of a first rotary shaft is changed to a linear motion by a first converting mechanism to cause the first cloth presser to move laterally while rotary motion of a second rotary shaft is changed to a linear motion by a second converting mechanism to cause the second cloth presser to move laterally. The first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft are connected with or disconnected from each other by a clutch so that the first rotary shaft is driven by or released from a drive unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination with a cycle sewing machine having a needle having opposite sides and swingable in zigzag and a cloth presser metal, an automatic cloth feeding device for sewn material, said device comprising: a working table on which the sewn material is placed in laterally extended position, the machine being mounted on a substantially central portion of the table, the needle and cloth presser metal of the machine cooperating to buttonhole a predetermined portion of the sewn material on the table every sewing operation;   a pair of first and second cloth pressers, one presser being disposed at one side of the needle, the other presser being disposed at the other side of the needle, the pair of pressers alternately holding and releasing both ends of the laterally extending material; and   transfer means for driving the pair of cloth pressers laterally along an upper surface of the working table, the transfer means including a first rotary shaft disposed under the working table and extending laterally, a first converting means for converting the rotary motion of the first rotary shaft into a linear motion of the first cloth presser, a second rotary shaft disposed coaxially with the first rotary shaft, a clutch having a first position at which the first rotary shaft is connected with the second rotary shaft and a second position at which the first rotary shaft is disconnected from the second rotary shaft, and a drive unit for rotatably driving at least one of the first and the second rotary shafts.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the drive unit can also drive both shafts. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the clutch is an electromagnetic clutch brake interposed between the first and second shafts.